Malhotra criticises central government stand on Ram Setu

New Delhi, Oct 15(IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) chief ministerial candidate for Delhi Vijay Kumar Malhotra Wednesday took strong exception to the stand taken by the central government that Ram Setu was not an integral part of the Hindu faith.”The government has even denied the very existence of Lord Ram and this has not only hurt the religious feelings of the entire Hindu community, but has also created a feeling how far removed the Congress leaders are from the realities of history and concrete proofs on the ground,” said a statement quoting Malhotra.

“It is strange that on one hand Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh participate in Ram Lila and take active part in the Dussehra celebrations while paying obeisance to Lord Ram, and on the other they deny his very existence. It is only they who can explain such an ambiguity,” Malhotra said.

Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals 48 km long. Many Hindus believe that it was built during Lord Ram’s era to facilitate his journey from southern India to Sri Lanka.

The Sethusamundram Shipping Channel Project aims to build a shorter navigational route around the Indian peninsula. The project envisages dredging a 30-metre wide and 12-metre deep furrow across the Ram Setu.

Malhotra said that the government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court hurts the feelings of millions of followers of the Hindu faith.

Malhotra said he wants to know if the foundations of religious beliefs of the Congress leaders are so weak that one day they file an affidavit denying the very existence of Lord Rama and then withdraw that affidavit.

“After hurting the feelings of the Hindus, the government now wants to demolish the Sethu. It is impossible for any right thinking man in the country to accept this way of thinking. Any negative move on the part of government in this regard will not be tolerated and never accepted,” he added.

Malhotra said: “The ancient scriptures like the Ramayana are replete with the mention of Ram Setu.”